Westminster Planning & Zoning Commission

CITY OF WESTMINSTER PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING SUMMARY Thursday, November 14, 2019, at 7 PM City Hall, 1838 Emerald Hill Lane Westminster, Maryland 21157 A meeting of the Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission was held at City Hall, 1838 Emerald Hill Lane in Westminster, Maryland 21157, on November 14, 2019, at 7 PM. Chair Kevin Beaver, Vice-Chair Ross Albers, Commissioner Tom Herb, Commissioner Lyndi McNulty, and Councilmember Ben Yingling were present. City staff members Andrea Gerhard, Andrew Gray, and Samantha Schlitzer were also present. Bobbi Moser and Cody Spaid from the Carroll County Department of Planning were also in attendance. No members of the public signed in. Chair Beaver opened the meeting at 7:00 PM. Chair Beaver requested a motion to approve the meeting summary from October 10, 2019. Councilmember Yingling made a motion to approve the meeting summary from October 10, 2019. Vice- Chair Albers seconded. The motion passed. Chair Beaver opened New Business Item A – Requested relief from the 200-foot Distance Requirement in §164-86 A. (1) of the City Code Related to a Sketch Plan of Clark Farm Properties. Mr. Gray provided the Commission with background information and a brief overview of the staff report, with a recommendation to carefully consider the applicant’s request given the limited project information available at this time. Should the Commission elect to grant the applicant’s requested relief, staff proposes that the Commission establish a distance between the proposed multi-family building and the adjacent dwelling units that ensures the decrease of the 200-foot minimum requirement does not adversely affect uses adjacent to and in the vicinity of the proposal. He added that a formal site plan has not yet been provided for staff review. Councilmember Yingling recused himself from all discussion due to a conflict. Chair Beaver recognized Mr. Jeff Zigler, on behalf of CLSI. Mr. Zigler stated that the proposal has come PZC Meeting Summary of November 14, 2019 Page 1 of 3 before the Commission during previous meetings. The property owners request a formal decision regarding the setbacks so that proposed development can move forward. The developer was cognizant of other requirements that must be met but, unless the setbacks were relieved, the proposed development could not move into the design stage. Chair Beaver voiced his hesitation for making such a decision without first seeing a formal site plan. He stated that, upon review, a smaller relief distance may be possible. He also noted that the surrounding property owners should have the right to view and comment on a proposed site plan before the Commission makes any decisions. Mr. Zigler added that the relaxed setbacks would allow for an access drive to circulate traffic on all sides of the proposed building. There is an existing septic field preventing the site to be further altered, so the presented sketch plan was nearly identical to what would be submitted as a formal site plan. Vice-Chair Albers stated that the Commission could provide setback relief in terms of reasonable distance instead of a specific number of feet. If the formal site plan establishes a reasonable distance shorter than the required setbacks, the Commission would consider approval. Commissioner McNulty agreed with Vice-Chair Albers’ suggestion. Chair Beaver agreed that the sketch plan appeared to fit the reasonable distance requirement without the need for a specific number of feet. Vice-Chair Albers moved to approve the proposed requested relief from the 200-foot requirements, provided that the future proposed site plan shows a reasonable distance, similar to what was presented on the sketch plan at the Planning Commission meeting. Commissioner Herb seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0, with one recusal. Chair Beaver opened New Business Item B – Determination of §164-199 F. of the City Code Related to an Upwards Adjustment for Eight new Homes Sites for the Stonegate Development. Mr. Gray provided the Commission with background information and a brief overview of the staff report, adding that the staff recommendation was that the Commission increase the number of allowable building permits for the Stonegate development by 20% (8 single family detached dwelling units) for calendar year 2019. Councilmember Yingling moved to approve the proposed relief from §164-199 F. of Article XXIV, of the City Code to increase the amount of building permits allowed to be issued from 40 to 48 in 2019. Vice- Chair Albers seconded. The motion passed. Chair Beaver opened New Business Item C – County Liaison Report. Ms. Bobbi Moser provided the Commission with information on two proposed annexations into the City limits. These properties are within the municipal growth area, and the annexations would allow the property owner to consider future development. Ms. Gerhard added that the proposal has been reviewed and approved by County agencies. A public hearing will be held on December 3, 2019 for the Planning and Zoning Commission to consider the property owner’s request. One parcel is proposed as an access point to a larger property already within City limits for future development of a multi-family dwelling unit. PZC Meeting Summary of November 14, 2019 Page 2 of 3 Chair Beaver opened Commission Comments. Mr. Gray stated that the Board of Zoning Appeals is scheduled to review Case No. 19-07 on December 3, 2019 requesting approval of a proposed variance from the required minimum landscaping requirements. This meeting will start at 6:00 PM. and will be held upstairs in City Hall. The Special Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission will start in the Mayor and Common Council Chambers at 7:00 PM. Ms. Gerhard stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission will hold three public hearings on December 3, 2019. The first concerned proposed Annexation No. 70 for 1117 Old New Windsor Road “The Westminster Livestock Auction Property.” The second involved an Amendment to the Zoning Code for R- 10,000 and R-20,000 to allow townhouses that exist to operate as a right; this is a current problem with processing building permits. The third public hearing concerns Annexation No. 71 for EOB, LLC and DASY Corporation. Vice-Chair Albers moved to adjourn. Councilmember Yingling seconded. The Commission adjourned at 7:32 PM. PZC Meeting Summary of November 14, 2019 Page 3 of 3